Resetting device for counter drums

ABSTRACT

A reset device for resetting the digit drums of a counter wherein the digit drums are couplable by transfer pinions mounted on a common pinion shaft movable to and from a position in which the transfer pinions are in engagement with the digit drums, the reset device comprising a reset slide having first and second blades defining a notch open at one end and in which the pinion shaft is engageable, the slide being movable to progressively engage the shaft in the notch, the notch having a first part in which the shaft is engaged during a first phase of actuation of the slide to move the transfer pinions out of engagement with the digit drum, a second part in which the shaft is engaged during a second phase of actuation of the slide to maintain the transfer pinions in the out-of-engagement position, and a third part in which the shaft is engaged during a final phase of actuation of the slide to move the transfer pinions back into engagement with the digit drums, one of the blades having a guide surface engageable by the shaft to move the blade away from the shaft during the return movement of the reset slide while the transfer pinions are maintained in engagement with the digit drums; reset means coupled to the reset slide and engageable with cam means on the digit drums during the second and final phases of actuation of the reset slide to reset the digit drums and maintain the digit drums in reset positions respectively, and spring means biasing the transfer pinions into engagement with the digit drums.

United States Patent 191 Krauss Feb. 4, 1975 RESETTING DEVICE FORCOUNTER DRUMS [75] Inventor: Hans Giinter Krauss, Vohrum,

Germany [73] Assignee: Elmeg Elektro-Mechanik GrnbH,

Peine, Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 456,538

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Serv No. 325,428, Jan.22, 1973,

abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 24, 1972 Germany 2203250[52] US. Cl 235/144 HC [51] Int. Cl. G06c 15/42 [58] Field of Search235/144 HC, 95 R, 133 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,980,329 4/1961 Hoffman .1235/144 HC 3,053,441 /1962 Vroom 235/144 HC 3,178,111 4/1965 Auer235/144 HC 3,677,468 7/1972 LaPointe 235/144 HC 3,711,684 1/1973 Zielket 4 235/144 HC 3,777,973 12/1973 Kundisch 235/144 HC PrimaryExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Vit W. Miska Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Ralf H. Sieaemund [57] ABSTRACT A reset device forresetting the digit drums of a counter wherein the digit drums arecouplable by transfer pinions mounted on a common pinion shaft movableto and from a position in which the transfer pinions are in engagementwith the digit drums, the reset device comprising a reset slide havingfirst and second blades defining a notch open at one end and in whichthe pinion shaft is engageable, the slide being movable to progressivelyengage the shaft in the notch, the notch having a first part in whichthe shaft is engaged during a first phase of actuation of the slide tomove the transfer pinions out of engagement with the digit drum, asecond part in which the shaft is engaged during a second phase ofactuation of the slide to maintain the transfer pinions in theout-ofengagement position, and a third part in which the shaft isengaged during a final phase of actuation of the slide to move thetransfer pinions back into engagement with the digit drums, one of theblades having a guide surface engageable by the shaft to move the bladeaway from the shaft during the return movement of the reset slide whilethe transfer pinions are maintained in engagement with the digit drums;reset means coupled to the reset slide and engageable with cam means onthe digit drums during the second and final phases of actuation of thereset slide to reset the digit drums and maintain the digit drums inreset positions respectively, and spring means biasing the transferpinions into engagement with the digit drums.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures RESE'ITING DEVICE FOR COUNTER DRUMS This isa continuation of application Ser. No. 325,428 filed .Ian. 22, 1973, nowabandoned.

The present invention relates to a reset device for resetting the digitdrums of a counter.

In resettable counters having transfer pinions coupling the digit-drums,the transfer pinions which serve to notch the digit drum of the nexthigher order for wards one step each time the preceding digit drum hascompleted one revolution are during the resetting process, moved out ofengagement with the digit drums, since the latter must be able to rotatefreely during the engagement of reset fingers with the heart-shaped camscoupled to the digit drums.

ln known counters of this type the action of the reset fingers on theheart-shaped cams and the disconnection of the transfer pinions arecoordinated so that the pinions are moved out of engagement with thedigit drums before the reset fingers begin to act on the heat-shapedcams, and the transfer pinions are moved back into engagement with thedigit drums before the reset fingers are disengaged from the sections ofthe heart-shaped cams corresponding with the zero position of the digitdrums. This time cycle is such that the digit drums do not receive atorque from the resetting fingers before the transfer pinions have beendisengaged therefrom; otherwise the drums can be jammed or damaged.Furthermore after the digit drums have been set to zero they are notfreely rotatable before their reengagement by the transfer pinions andhence movable under the effects of vibration or the like. This timecycle (disengagement of the transfer pinions, action of the resetfingers on the heabshaped cams to bring the digit drums to zero,securing of the digit drums in their zero position by the reset fingers,re-engagement of the transfer pinions and movement of the reset fingersback to their rest position) is carried out relatively satisfactorily byknown reset devices. However, in known reset devices to attain the abovecycle a multiplicity of components requiring exact adjustment is howevernecessary, whereby the material costs and expense of assembly of thereset device are very unfavourably affected. It is consequently theobject of the present invention to produce a reset device in which bycutting down the components necessary the material and assembly costscan be considerably lowered.

In a known type of counter a reset slide guided in a sideplate isprovided, which can be actuated either by hand or electromagnetically.On this reset slide an arm is rotatably supported, the arm being solidlyconnected to a reset cam supported pivotally on a spindle and carryingthe reset fingers. A pinion bridge carrying the transfer pinions is alsosupported on this spindle, and a friction coupling is provided betweenthe reset cam and the pinion bridge. When the reset slide is actuatedboth the pinion bridge and the reset cam swing round simultaneously. Thepinion bridge is thereby brought out of engagement with the drums beforethe reset fingers have contacted the heart-shaped cams on the digitdrums. After the pinion bridge has swung out it resets against a stop sothat with further movement of the reset slide the reset fingers can acton the heart-shaped earns, as the reset cam pivots relative to thepinion bridge. By virtue of the friction between the pinion bridge andthe reset cam, during the return movement of the reset slide effected bya spring, the pinion bridge comes into engagement with the digit drumsbefore the reset fingers are swung away out of the indentations in theheart-shaped cams corresponding with the zero positions. After thereengagement of the transfer pinions with the digit drums, the reset camagain swings round relative to the pinion bridge so that the resetfingers leave the indentations in the heart-shaped cams. This devicenecessitates a pinion bridge for the transfer pinions, a reset cam, afriction coupling having a spring and an arm for transmitting themovement of the reset slide to the reset cam. All these parts must,during the assembly of the counter in its housing, be inserted in thecorrect order.

Another known counter is similarly constructed and also has a frictioncoupling between its reset cam and the pinion bridge carrying thetransfer pinions. In this counter, however, the shaft common to all thetransfer pinions is supported not only in the pinion bridge but also inslots extending in the direction of movement of the reset slide. Theseslots serve exclusively to provide additional guidance for the shaft ofthe transfer pinions. This counter has the same disadvanrage as thatdescribed above.

In an improved counter departing from the two counters described aboveand known from German Pat. No. l,l43,348, the reset cam has a strikerlying between two stops on the reset slide, by which the reset cam canbe pivoted. The pinion bridge supported on the same shaft as the resetcam is coupled with the reset slide via an operating spring which bearson the shaft of the transfer pinions and the striker. This spring alsoserves as a toggle spring for the striker. In this counter, uponactuating the reset slide, the pinion bridge is first of all swung overbecause of the operating spring connection. Next the striker comes intoengagement with one stop on the reset slide, so that the reset camswings over and hence the digit drums are brought into the zeroposition. In this position the reset cam is held by the spring acting onthe striker, so on the return of the reset slide the transfer pinionsfirst of all swing back again and then, by the action of the other stopon the striker, the reset cam is returned to its starting position. Thisreset device also requires a multiplicity of costincreasing components.

In another known counter a reset cam and a pinion bridge are supportedon a common shaft, the pinion bridge and the reset cam being urgedtogether by a spring. On the reset slide of this counter two stops areprovided, one of which urges the pinion bridge in the direction of thedigit drums when the reset slide is not being actuated, whilst theother, when the reset slide is actuated, acts directly on the reset cam.When the reset slide is actuated both the reset cam and the pinionbridge are swung across because of the spring. In this case the paths ofswing are so proportioned that the transfer pinions come out ofengagement before the reset fingers can act upon the heart-shaped cams.When the digit drums are brought into the zero position by the action ofthe reset fingers on the heart-shaped earns, the reset fingers in thisposition drop into indentations in the heart-shaped cams. In thiscondition the reset cam is locked by a spring-loaded blocking-lever.This lever is raised by the reset slide as it returns. when the transferpinions have come into re-engagement with the digit drums. This resetdevice also suffers from the same disadvantage of a heavy outlayaffecting the total price of the counter considerably.

in summary it can be said of the known reset devices that they allexhibit the same disadvantage of requiring many components which aredifficult to assemble, and that in all of them the outward swing of thepinion bridge is not positively coupled with the movement of the resetslide. Because of this it cannot be guaranteed that the transfer pinionswill be disconnected at the right instant and before the reset fingersact on the heart-shaped cams, so that. in the case ofjerky actuation ofthe reset slide, as occurs, for example, with electromagnetic actuation,it may be that no reset will occur after all and/or that the transferpinions and digit drums are damaged.

According to the present invention, there is provided a reset device forresetting the digit drums of a counter wherein the digit drums arecouplable by transfer pinions carried on a common shaft which is movableto disconnect the transfer pinions from digit drums during the returnreset movement of the digit drums, the device comprising a reset slidedefining a notch in which the pinion shaft is engaged for displacementof the pinion shaft, the notch having a first part aligned so that, in afirst phase of actuation of the reset slide, the pinion shaft is engagedtherein and the transfer pinions are moved out of engagement with thedigit drums, a second part so aligned that, in a second phase ofactuation of the reset slide, the pinion shaft is engaged therein andthe out-of-engagement position of the transfer pinions is maintained sothat the digit drums can be reset while disengaged from the transferpinions, and a third part so aligned that in a final phase of theactuation of the reset slide the pinion shaft is engaged therein and thetransfer pinions are moved back into engagement with the digit drumswhile the reset position of the digit drums is maintained, said resetslide being adapted such that it can be moved back to its startingposition without alteration of the reset position of the digit drums.

In an embodiment of the reset device it is of no particular importanceof which kind are the reset members effecting the resetting of the digitdrums and provided between the reset slide and the digit drums. With anykind of reset member a strict separation of the individual motions ofthe pinion shaft into motions occurring positively one after the otheris attained. Above all with this device a large number of hithertonecessary components disappear, as for example a separate pinion,friction coupling or toggle spring. A particularly simple device inwhich the need for a reset bridge disappears includes reset fingerswhich act on heartshaped cams provided on the digit drums and which aremounted on the reset slide. in this device only a single component isrequired for the resetting of the digit drums and the disconnection ofthe transfer pinions, namely, the reset slide.

A deflection spring may be provided on the reset slide, extending in thedirection of actuation of the latter, which forces the pinion shaft inthe direction towards the digit drums. Hereby a separate spring and itsmanufacture and assembly are saved since the deflection spring simply inthe form, for example, ofa spring wire can be moulded into a reset slideof injectionmoulded synthetic and thus made together with the latter.

The notch may be open at one end such that the reset slide can beinserted in the device in a very simple manner even with the pinionshaft already in place.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention in which part of the notch isdefined by an upper blade. the blade is provided with an obliqueabutment surface and engaged by the pinion shaft on the return movementof the reset slide. to swing the blade resiliently outwardly in thelongitudinal direction of the shaft. The reset slide may be mounted formovement in a lengthwise guide provided in the counter housing. Theupper blade is then swung out during the return movement of the resetslide, so that the pinion shaft can once again return to the first partof the notch corresponding with the starting position.

The reset slide may be formed with a ridge which in the initial positionof the reset slide contacts the pinion shaft on that side away from thedigit drums. The transfer pinions are thus prevented during a countingcycle from being able to be swung out of engagement with the digit drumsby vibration or the like.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the main components of apreferred embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, in whichtwo operative positions of the apparatus are shown.

In FIGS. l and 2 a shaft 3 common to all digit drums 2 is supported in acounter housing I. The digit drums 2 are operatively coupled together bytransfer pinions 4; the transfer pinions 4 are supported on a pinionshaft 5 common to all the pinions and mounted in slots 6 provided in thehousing 1. The pinion shaft 5 is retained axially by locking pieces 20.

In the housing 1 there is also supported a reset slide 7 which ismovable lengthwise. A reset finger 8 for each digit drum 2 is mounted onslide 7. These reset fingers 8 are operative to reset the digit drums 2by action on heart-shaped cams 9 provided on each digit drum 2.

At each arm of the U-shaped reset slide which cooperates with the pinionshaft 5, a notch 10 is provided between an upper laterally resilientlyswingable blade 11 and a lower rigid blade 19. A deflection spring 12connected with the reset slide extends in each notch. The spring 12urges the pinion shaft 5 continuously in the direction of the digitdrums 2 to urge the pinions into engagement with the drums (FIG. 1). Thenotches 10 each comprise three parts l3, l4 and 15, which are arrangedat angles to one another. The notches l0 serve to engage the pinionshaft 5 of the transfer pinions, when the reset slide is slid forwards(i.e., in the right hand direction of FlGS. l and 2), to move the shaft5 in the slots 6 in the housing 1 against the springs 12 to a positionin which the pinions are out of engagement with the drums.

An abutment surface 16 is formed on each of the upper blades 11 of thereset slide 7 and cooperates with the rounded ends 17 of the pinionshaft 5 in the appropriate position of the reset slide 7 so causing theupper blade 11 to be swung outwards (lower part of FIG. 2).

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows. When thereset slide 7 is operated, i.e., is moved towards the right, initiallythe transfer pinions 4 are moved out of engagement with the digit drums2, because the first part 13 of the notches 10 causes the pinion shaft 5to move from its end position in the slots 6. During the second phase ofthe reset movement of the slide the pinion shaft 5 moves into the secondpart 14 of the notch whereby the shaft is firmly held in itsout-of-engagement position and at the same time the reset fingers 8 actupon the heart-shaped cams 9 so that during this phase of the resetmovement the digit drums 2 are turned back to their starting positions.in the last phase of the reset movement the pinion shaft 5 is guidedinto the third part of the notch 10, thereupon the pinion shaft 5, underthe urging of the deflection springs 12, moves back along the slots 6,and the pinions 4 come into engagement with the digit drums, which havebeen reset in the meantime, before the digit drums are released by thereset fingers. During the return movement of the reset slide 7, i.e.,its movement to the left of FIG. 1, the rounded ends 17 of the pinionshaft 5 first engage the surfaces 16 on the upper blades 11 of the resetslides 7. With further movement of the reset slide 7, the upper bladesII are swung outwards by the rounded ends 17 of the pinion shaft 5without this leaving its position at the ends of the slots 6 with thepinions in engagement with the drums. When the slide 7 has completelywithdrawn, the pinion shaft 5 lies once more in the first part 13 of thenotches 10. These parts 13 are open on one side. A ridge i8 is providedon the lower blade 19 which, when the slide is in its inoperativeposition, engages the pinion shaft 5 from underneath and prevents thetransfer pinions from being able to be swung away from engagement withthe drums during a counting process on account of vibrations or thelike.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theembodiment shown. Thus the reset slide can, for example, instead ofbeing U'shaped consist of only one linear part and therefore have onlyone notch. Obviously it is possible, instead of the reset fingers 8provided on the reset slide, to provide other means arranged between thereset slide 7 and the digit drums 2 for resetting the digit drums 2.Such other means are so arranged and aligned that the resetting of thedigit drums 2 takes place exclusively during the second phase of thereset actuation of the reset slide 7, that is, during the time when thepinion shaft Sis guided in the second part 14 of the notch 10.

Instead of the deflection spring 12 another kind of spring, urging thepinion shaft 5 in the direction of the digit drums, can also beprovided. Finally the upper blade 11 of the reset slide can be rigid. Inthis case the reset slide can instead be swingable so that in its returnmovement it swings upwards so that the pinion shaft can again reach thefront, first part 13 of the notch 10.

I claim:

1. in a reset device for resetting the digit drums of a counter whereinthe digit drums are couplable by transfer pinions carried on a commonshaft, which is movable to disconnect the transfer pinions from digitdrums during the return movement of the digit drums the device havingmeans for resetting the digit drums upon advance of a reset slide andholding the digit drums in the reset position unitl the reset slide isbeing retracted, the improvement ofa control member connected to thereset slideand having a particularly contoured cam surface, in which thepinion shaft is engaged for displacement of the pinion shaft, the camsurface of the control member having a first cam surface aligned, sothat, in a first phase of actuation and advance of the reset slide, thepinion shaft is engaged therein and the transfer pinions are moved outof engagement with the digit drums;

a second cam surface continuing the first cam surface but in a differentdirection, so that, in a second phase of continued and advance actuationof the reset slide, the pinion shaft as engaged therewith causing theoutof-engagement position of the transfer pinions to be maintained, sothat the digit drums can be reset by the means for resetting whileremaining disengaged from the transfer pinions; and a third cam surfacecontinuing the second surface, again in a different direction, so thatin a final phase of the still continued actuation and advance of thereset slide the pinion shaft as engaged therewith is displaced, so thatthe transfer pinions are moved back and into engagement with the digitdrums. while the reset position of the digit drums is activelymaintained by the means for resetting, said member and said shaftconstructed for relative displacement transverse to the movement of theshaft by operation of the first and third cam surfaces, so that as saidreset slide is being moved back to its starting position. the third andsecond cam surface bypass said pinion shaft and the reset position ofthe digit drums is not being altered as the reset slide moves back.

2. A reset device as claimed in claim 1, including reset fingers adaptedto act on heart-shaped cams provided on the digit drums and mounted onsaid reset slide.

3. A reset device as claimed in claim I, including a deflection springprovided on said reset slide, extending in the direction of actuation ofsaid slide and urging the pinion shaft in a direction to urge thetransfer pinions into engagement with the digit drums.

4. A reset device as claimed in claim I, said control member having ablade which is formed with an oblique abutment surface engageable by thepinion shaft on the return movement of said reset slide to swing saidblade resiliently outwardly away from the shaft.

5. A reset device as claimed in claim 4, said control member having asecond blade which is provided with a ridge which, in the startingposition of the reset slide. contacts the pinion shaft on that sideremote from the digit drums.

6. A reset device for resetting the digit drums of a counter, whereinthe digit drums are releasably engaged with transfer pinions carried ona common shaft. which is journalled to shift in-between first and secondpositions respectively of engagement of the digit drums with thepinions, and of disengagement of the digit drums from the pinions, andwherein the digit drums are operable through particular cam surfaces forreturning the digit drums to a zero position, the device furtherincluding a reset slide with reset means normally disengaged from saidparticular cam surfaces but respectively engaging the particular camsurfaces for returning the digit drums to a zero position upon advancingof the reset slide, the improvement comprising:

a multi-surface control member connected to the reset slide and movingtherewith and having first, second and third camlike control surfacesfor sequential engagement with said pinion shaft upon advancing thereset slide in one particular direction, the first, second and thirdcontrol surfaces having different directions, so that, upon displacementof the control member, the pinion shaft is guided into differentdispositions;

the first control surface oriented for displacing the shaft, uponinitially advancing of the reset slide, from the first to the secondposition, the second control surface engaging the shaft upon continuedadvancing of the reset slide and retaining the shaft in the secondposition. the third control surface engaging the shaft and becomingoperative during the last phase of continued reset slide advancing,permitting the shaft to return to the first position. wherein thepinions engage the digit drums;

first means for causing the shaft to engage the third control surfacefor obtaining return of the shaft to the first position in the lastphase of advance of the reset slide, the reset means as engaging the camsurfaces for returning the digit drums to zero position during advanceof the reset slide, prior to return of the shaft to the first position,additionally holding the digit drums through the cam surfaces untilretraction of the reset slide; and

second means for defining a fourth control surface to guide the relativedisposition of the member and of the shaft upon the reset slide beingreturned. so that the second and third control surfaces remaindisengaged from the shaft during the return of the reset slide, and theshaft remains in the first positron.

7. A reset device as in claim 6, wherein the portion of the controlmember having the first, second and third cam surfaces. is resilientlydeflectible. and has the fourth cam surface coacting in control with anend of the shaft for being deflected upon retraction of the slide.

8. A reset device as in claim 7, said control member having a guide slotfor the shaft, the first. second and third cam surfaces bounding anddefining one side of the slot, the first means including spring means onthe member for retaining the shaft in engagement with the first secondand third cam surfaces.

9. A reset device as in claim 6, the first means being a spring. urgingthe shaft into engagement with the second and third cam surfaces, thethird surface being recessed in relation to the second surface, so thatthe spring upon urging the shaft into engagement with the third camsurface moves the shaft to the first position.

10. A reset device as in claim 6, the spring retaining the shaft in thefirst position upon retraction of the slide.

1. In a reset device for resetting the digit drums of a counter whereinthe digit drums are couplable by transfer pinions carried on a commonshaft, which is movable to disconnect the transfer pinions from digitdrums during the return movement of the digit drums the device havingmeans for resetting the digit drums upon advance of a reset slide andholding the digit drums in the reset position unitl the reset slide isbeing retracted, the improvement of a control member connected to thereset slide and having a particularly contoured cam surface, in whichthe pinion shaft is engaged for displacement of the pinion shaft, thecam surface of the control member having a first cam surface aligned, sothat, in a first phase of actuation and advance of the reset slide, thepinion shaft is engaged therein and the transfer pinions are moved outof engagement with the digit drums; a second cam surface continuing thefirst cam surface but in a different direction, so that, in a secondphase of continued and advance actuation of the reset slide, the pinionshaft as engaged thErewith causing the out-of-engagement position of thetransfer pinions to be maintained, so that the digit drums can be resetby the means for resetting while remaining disengaged from the transferpinions; and a third cam surface continuing the second surface, again ina different direction, so that in a final phase of the still continuedactuation and advance of the reset slide the pinion shaft as engagedtherewith is displaced, so that the transfer pinions are moved back andinto engagement with the digit drums, while the reset position of thedigit drums is actively maintained by the means for resetting, saidmember and said shaft constructed for relative displacement transverseto the movement of the shaft by operation of the first and third camsurfaces, so that as said reset slide is being moved back to itsstarting position, the third and second cam surface bypass said pinionshaft and the reset position of the digit drums is not being altered asthe reset slide moves back.
 2. A reset device as claimed in claim 1,including reset fingers adapted to act on heart-shaped cams provided onthe digit drums and mounted on said reset slide.
 3. A reset device asclaimed in claim 1, including a deflection spring provided on said resetslide, extending in the direction of actuation of said slide and urgingthe pinion shaft in a direction to urge the transfer pinions intoengagement with the digit drums.
 4. A reset device as claimed in claim1, said control member having a blade which is formed with an obliqueabutment surface engageable by the pinion shaft on the return movementof said reset slide to swing said blade resiliently outwardly away fromthe shaft.
 5. A reset device as claimed in claim 4, said control memberhaving a second blade which is provided with a ridge which, in thestarting position of the reset slide, contacts the pinion shaft on thatside remote from the digit drums.
 6. A reset device for resetting thedigit drums of a counter, wherein the digit drums are releasably engagedwith transfer pinions carried on a common shaft, which is journalled toshift in-between first and second positions respectively of engagementof the digit drums with the pinions, and of disengagement of the digitdrums from the pinions, and wherein the digit drums are operable throughparticular cam surfaces for returning the digit drums to a zeroposition, the device further including a reset slide with reset meansnormally disengaged from said particular cam surfaces but respectivelyengaging the particular cam surfaces for returning the digit drums to azero position upon advancing of the reset slide, the improvementcomprising: a multi-surface control member connected to the reset slideand moving therewith and having first, second and third camlike controlsurfaces for sequential engagement with said pinion shaft upon advancingthe reset slide in one particular direction, the first, second and thirdcontrol surfaces having different directions, so that, upon displacementof the control member, the pinion shaft is guided into differentdispositions; the first control surface oriented for displacing theshaft, upon initially advancing of the reset slide, from the first tothe second position, the second control surface engaging the shaft uponcontinued advancing of the reset slide and retaining the shaft in thesecond position, the third control surface engaging the shaft andbecoming operative during the last phase of continued reset slideadvancing, permitting the shaft to return to the first position, whereinthe pinions engage the digit drums; first means for causing the shaft toengage the third control surface for obtaining return of the shaft tothe first position in the last phase of advance of the reset slide, thereset means as engaging the cam surfaces for returning the digit drumsto zero position during advance of the reset slide, prior to return ofthe shaft to the first position, additionally holding the digit drumsthrough the cam surfaCes until retraction of the reset slide; and secondmeans for defining a fourth control surface to guide the relativedisposition of the member and of the shaft upon the reset slide beingreturned, so that the second and third control surfaces remaindisengaged from the shaft during the return of the reset slide, and theshaft remains in the first position.
 7. A reset device as in claim 6,wherein the portion of the control member having the first, second andthird cam surfaces, is resiliently deflectible, and has the fourth camsurface coacting in control with an end of the shaft for being deflectedupon retraction of the slide.
 8. A reset device as in claim 7, saidcontrol member having a guide slot for the shaft, the first, second andthird cam surfaces bounding and defining one side of the slot, the firstmeans including spring means on the member for retaining the shaft inengagement with the first second and third cam surfaces.
 9. A resetdevice as in claim 6, the first means being a spring, urging the shaftinto engagement with the second and third cam surfaces, the thirdsurface being recessed in relation to the second surface, so that thespring upon urging the shaft into engagement with the third cam surfacemoves the shaft to the first position.
 10. A reset device as in claim 6,the spring retaining the shaft in the first position upon retraction ofthe slide.